Rotary engine



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THE mams Ps'rms co, wNoTauTHu., WASHINGTON, D. cy

No. 6|l,536. Patented Sept. 27, |898.

J. C. WALKER. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.)

(No Model.)

v W/TNESSES No. 6||,536. Patented Sept. 27,1898.

` J. C. WALKER.

lRITAIY ENGINE.

(Applcatiqn led Dec. 27, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W/T/VESSES x ATTORNEY/S TH: Nonms Farms no.. PHoTaLl'rHo.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

JAMES o. WALKER, or rwAco, TEXAS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,536, dated September 27, 1898.

Application ledDeoember 27, 1897. Serial No. 66 3.784. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. WALKER, residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented anew and Improved Rotary Engine, 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which relates generally to improvements on the form of engine disclosed in my Patent No. 515,631, dated'February 17, 1894., more particularly refers to an improved means for operating the abutment-slides and the inlet-valve devices disclosed in my copending application iiled December27, 1897, Serial No. 663,783.

This invention in its most essential features differentiates from the construction in my other application in the peculiar relation and arrangement of the automatic adjustable centrifugally-operated devices for operating the connections for the sliding o-r throttled valve of the steam-chest.

The invention consists in the peculiar arrangement of parts, such as will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to...the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved engine, parts being shownin section. Figi 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a detail view of one set of the abutment-slide-operating rock-frames. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a top and inverted plan view of the mechanism for operating the inlet-valvelever devices. Figs. 7, S, and 9 are detail views illustrating a modified construction of abutment and Valve operating devices. Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating the shifting valve for the steam-inlet and the exhaust and inlet ports for the cylinder.

In its, general structure this form of engine comprises a nest of cylinders,` preferably four, arranged in two sets, designated by B B and B2 Bwhich are formed in sections joined together, mounted upon suitable bases and provided with ofltake devices at the .lower end for the escape of the products of the condensations, the saine as in my other application referred to. In the present form the cylinders each have an annular steam-chamber and a sliding abutment arrangedrat the upper end,which abutments of the several cylinders are disposed in the `same radial alinement. The shaft is also provided With anumber of concentric pistons, one for each chamber, which pistons for each set of cylinders are disposed at diametrically opposite points, and, if desired, the arrangement of the pistons in the two sets may be alike, so as to take live steam in two cylinders at one time, as shown, or they may be arranged alternately, so that the shaft of the engine may receive a live-steam force at each quarter of its revolution.

In the present structure the operatingdisks which carry the cam devices for operating the abutment slide valves are also ixedly mounted on the shaft C between the inner pair of cylinders. The disks, one of which is employed for each set of cylinders, consist of a solid body portion d, fixedly held on the shaft C. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) This body portion has three operating parts-a middle circular section d5, which lserves as a guide, and reduced annular portions d6 and dl on opposite sides,which terminate in diametrically opposite projecting arrow-like heads d6() and d70, the purpose of which will presentlyjappear.

c5 c6 designate pendent leversguided in suitable bearings, the upper ends of which terminate in four portions c7 o8, which respectively connect with the abutment-slideoperating-lever devices, one set of which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. Each set of these devices comprises a shaft c, journaled in suitable bearings, on which one end yof the rocker-arms c c and c2 c2 are loosely journaled, their outer ends being pivotally securedto the lift-arms c10 of the abutmentslide frame 012 for the cylinder B2 and the arm 014 of the frame 015 for the abutment-slide for the cylinder B3.

The lower ends of the pendent levers c5 c6 carry a crescent-shaped frame d3, and such lower ends and frame are also strongly braced by the members (122, as shown in Fig. 2.

In each end of the frames d3 is journaled a friction-roller, which rollers operate against the side of the guide-casingdz, which is provided to keep the contact-piece cl3 in proper position and also to take up the stress of the IOO shock when the member d6 or d comes in contact with its coincident frame member cl3, such arrangement of parts allowing the levers c5 cb to slide freely without undue lateral strain in their bearings.

The casing d2, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 3, has a central division member whereby a separate guiding-compartment is provided for each lever c5 c6, and such casing is secured to the side of the cylinder B2 by suit-` able brackets C79.

H5 indicates a cog-wheel lixedly secured on the drive-shaft c, which meshes with a horizontal cog-gear H2, iixedly secured on the lower end of the vertical guide-shaft H, journaled in suitable bearings, the lower end having ball-bearings on the bracket H, while its upper end carries a centrifugal ball-governor mechanism and two cam-equipped disks, the detail construction of which is more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

As the construction of cam devices on both disks 716 and 72,7 is alike, a detail description of such devices of one disk will suffice for both.

The disk hf", the upper and lower faces of which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, has an annular upwardly-projected outer rim b21, which constitutes the perimeter of the disk. The inner edge of such rim at a suitable point has an inwardly-projecting triangular distention cl2, at the apex of which a subtended cross-bar cl3 is disposed, which bar is held a short distance away from the said apex, whereby an intermediate guidepassage isformcd for the pendent end of the rod 7t7, which connects with the valve devices for the cylinder B2 and the rod h6 for operating the similar devices for cylinder B, the valve-operating devices for cylinders B and B3 being operated by like rods 7t70 and 7t60, which engage the upper disk and cam devices 7L7. At this point it should be stated that when disk H6 is turned with the shaft H the pendent ends hw of the rods 7L and 727 will alternately contact with the portion L72 and be drawn in toward the center of the disk until the ends h1" reach the apex of the portion 0072, when the inward movement of such rods h6 and 7t7 is checked by the stop or crossbar L13 and left in that position until the triangular cut-off head a engages them, which will serve to move such rods 71,7 and h6 outward again, such alternate movement of the rods effecting the reciprocal movement on the respective slide-rods, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Two cut-offs a and 0,6 are provided for each disk H6 and H7, which have their shanks a4 pivotally joined to the disk adjacent its center, such shanks being guided under the seg mental arms am.

At diametrically opposite points the disk h6 has elongated apertures am, in which governor weight-blocks H3 are held to slide on suitable guide-rods, which weights are heldl normally against, undue centrifugal force by the spring 72,5.

At a point midway the apertures a the disk at one side has a radial groove a, in which is held to slide a lighter weight a', which connects with the blocks H3 by pivotal levers 0,2 c2 and with the shanks of the cutoffs by the levers a3.

H20 indicates a cap fixed on the upper end of shaft H, to which rods 7L17 are attached, which carry the governor-balls.

7x15 indicates a band held'to slide upon the upper end of the shaft, which is connected with, raised, and lowered by the centrifugal attachment of the governor-weights.

77,21 indicates a ring placed above the band 7115, which rides up and down with the said band. This ring 72,21 has two pendent rods on opposite sides of the shaft H, which extend down through holes in the two disks H6 and H7, and connect with the ring 7c intermediate the disks H6 and H7 and ring b below the lower disk H6, which rings 7c and h, owing to their connection with the ring Z927, move up and down in unison with the band 7L.

The ring 7i is connected to the weightblocks H3 by link-rods 7L', while the ring 7., is similarly connected by the link-rods 71,2 with the weights H3 of the upper disk H7.

By arranging and combining the several parts constituting the valve-operating mechanism as described a double automatic governor means for regulating the cut-offs is provided having a direct centrifugal action and an indirect adjustment through the medium of the ball-governor-operateddevices.

While I prefer to use the duplex mechanism shown, it is manifest the ball-governor devices may be omitted without rendering the cut-offs inoperative.

The abutment slides or valves in practice are made of polished steel plates, the lower half of which are made circular to exactly fit the bore of the cylinders and are held to slide in a narrow groove in the cylinder-wall and the abutment-casing. The upper portion of the abutments may be made square, as shown, or circular, if desired.

In operation when the steam is turned on into any one or set of cylinders the shaft and cam-disks are caused to revolve. Vhen the extension C770 engages its respective crescentframe d3, the lever c5 is forced upward, its forked ends lifting the abutment-slide frame c and through it the abutment-slide F7 of the cylinder D3. After the member d passes its frame cl3 the lever c5 will gravitate back and in consequence bring the slide F7`back to act as a wall or abutment, andas the disk c7 continues in its rotation its member C760 engages the frame C73 ofy the lever c6, lifts it and the slide FG of the cylinder B2, which slide also turns to its cut-off position by gravity. During this operation the disks HG and H7 are revolved by the rotation of shaft H,which disks reciprocate the several rods which connect with the IOO IIO

`ing abutments.

slide-valves heretofore referred to. The rod 717 of the lower disk II6 is connected to the crank 020 on the vertically-disposed rock-shaft 075, which has a second crank C27, connected by the link-arm C22 with the slide-valve c25, it being obvious that when the arm h7 is reciprocated a reciprocal action is imparted to the valve c25. In this structure a slide-plate H25 is mounted in the steam-chest between valves c25 and the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, which is connected through suitable levers with the double rock-shafts R and R', having a suitable handle R2. In the present form of valve-operating means but a single supplemental valve is employed for each steam-chest. Its movement may be readily reversed by the reverse action of the ca mdisk.

It will be understood from the drawings that the devices which operate the reciprocating valves of the cylinders B, B', and B3 are exact duplicates of and operated precisely like the devices disclosed for operating the valve c25.

The mechanisms at the left of Fig. 1 for operating the abutment-slide valves for cylinders B and B being duplicates of those described for operating vslides F6 and F7, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

During operation when the disks H6 and H7 are revolved the weights H3 I'IS are forced outward by centrifugal action and through the medium of connecting-levers drives the weights a inward, which in such movement forces the cut-offs au and a closer to the triangular rim-section (172, and thus shortens the timeof admission of live steam.

When the engine slackens its speed, the several weights are forced by their pressuresprings which moves the heads d and d6 correspondingly away from the members L12 and increases the time of steam admission. By a union of the governor devices carried on the disks H7 and I-I6 and the ordinary governor on the end of shaft H the action of the cut-offs is rendered more uniform and positive.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of devices for operating the inlet-valve and slid- In this construction the cam devices on the drive-shaft are dispensed with and the abutment-slides and lever mechanism operated by cams fixed to the under side of the disks HG and H7, which carry the cam devices on their upper faces for operating the inlet-valve levers the` same as in the construction shown in Fig. 5. In this form of devices a segmental cam C17 is pivotally secured to the under side of the disk H6 and a similar cam C2S to the under side of the disk H7. These cams have horizontal pendent bevel faces which are adapted to engage the upturned ends of the rods o8, c, cls, and 019, each of which connects with suitable rockshaft devices connected with the several abutment-slides for the cylinders B, B', B2, and BB.

As all of such rock-'shaft devices are constructed and operated alike, I will describe one in detail. rIhe rod c8 connects with the crank-arm n on the horizontal rock-shaft 060, which has an oppositely-projecting crankarm 050, connected by a link-rod c40 with the rearwardly-extending crank 050 of a rocker lift-frame C20. In operation as the disk H6 rotates the shaft 060, throughthe medium of the cam C77, will be rocked in one direction to lift the frame c', it being rocked to the reverse direction by the reverse movement of the frame c', imparted by the gravity drop of slide F6.

While I have not illustrated the inlet-valveoperating devices in Figs. 7 and 8, it should be stated that their arrangement is precisely like those indicated in Figs. l, 2, and 4 ofthe drawings.

Further modifications and changes of details may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinders; the drive shaft; the abutment-slides, and means for automatically operating such slides; of a cut-off-valve mechanism for the cylinders; lever devices for operating a reciprocating action of the said valve mechanisms; the drive-shaft H, geared with` the main drive-shaft C; the centrifugally-operating cut-off devices mounted on the shaft II, and held to engage and impart a reciprocating action to the valve-shiftinglever devices, all being arranged as shown and described.

2. In a rotary engine of the character described; the combination with the cylinder; the drive-shaft; the automatically-operated sliding abutment and the reciprocating valve mechanism for the cylinder; a rock-shaft having a crank member connected to the reciprocating valve, said rock-shaft also having a second crank member; an operating-rod connected with said second crank member; a rotary disk geared with the main drive-shaft, said disk having positive means for intermittently engaging the rod and pulling it in one direction; and speed governed means for moving such rod to a reverse direction, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

3. In a rotary engine as described, a reciprocating valve-operating mechanism, comprising a rock-shaft connected with the valve,

a supplemental shaft geared with and driven by the main drive-shaft, a disk held upon such shaft to turn therewith, said disk having a fixed inlet cut-off member an, and centrifugally-operated cut-ods a6, a, and a lever having a crank member connected. with the valve-operating crank-shaft, and a pendent portion adapted to be alternately engaged by the xed inlet member cl2 and movable IOO IIO

cut-off members c andan, of the rotary disk, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

4. In a rotary engine as described; the combination With the drive-shaft and the reciprocating eut-ofE-Valve devices; of the shaft H, geared with the drive-shaft; the disks H6 H7 having fixed inlet cut-olf members and pivotal cut-offs; means for holding the said cut-offs normally against centrifugal move- 1o ment, and the centrifugal governor devices carried on the end of the shaft H and connected with the pivotal cut-offs, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

JAMES C. WALKER. Witnesses:

J. R.' DOWNS, JNO. M. KING. 

